Letter of Intent Concerning Trilateral Cooperation to Improve Indigenous Peoples' Health
Between the Canadian Intitutes of Health Research, the Health Research Council of New Zealand, and the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia

Since 2002, the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia (NHMRC), the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and the Health Research Council of New Zealand (HRC) (Partners) have shared a commitment to work within and between agencies to improve the health of our Indigenous Peoples - the First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples in Canada, the Māori people in New Zealand and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia.

Our agencies wish to build on the good work and goodwill achieved to date and:

Renew our commitment to improve the health of our Indigenous Peoples through research, and

Announce our intention:

  1. To strengthen the capacity and capability of Indigenous health and medical researchers.
  2. To use international research initiatives and calls for research to encourage international collaboration on health and research issues of relevance to Indigenous populations.
  3. To agree on research priorities of mutual and shared national priority and refresh these during the term of this Letter of Intent.
  4. To support a range of actions that furthers our understanding of our Indigenous Peoples' cultures, health or research experiences and approaches to health and wellness.

Information about our agreed research priorities and activities will be progressively appended to this Letter throughout the term of this Letter of Intent to allow flexibility for alignment with Partners' strategic activities and adaptation to emerging or more significant priorities. Other relevant international organisations may also be invited to join this partnership at a later stage.

This Letter of Intent is effective on the date of signature and remains effective for five (5) years from the date of the final signature. Membership of this Partnership and compliance with this Letter of Intent may be terminated by any Partner on 90 days written notice to other Partners. This Letter of Intent does not create binding obligations and all activities under this Letter of Intent are to be Subject to the availability of human and financial resources.

Partner signatures:

Dr Roderick R. McInnes, C.M., O.Ont., MD, PhD, FRSC
Acting President
Canadian Institutes of Health Research

Professor Kathryn McPherson
Chief Executive
Health Research Council of New Zealand

Professor Anne Kelso AO
Chief Executive Officer
National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia

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